#RingOfFire (#RoF) News – May 15, 2015

Another reminder from the Federal RoF minister“Anyone who says the federal government isn’t doing anything to advance development of the Ring of Fire hasn’t been paying attention, says Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford. Rickford initiated the siren at the opening of business Thursday at the Toronto Stock Exchange to mark National Mining Week, a celebration of Canada’s leadership and expertise in the industry ….”

More federal info “The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, (this week) released the Strategic Partnerships Initiative (SPI) Inaugural Report. The report provides an overview of this innovative program and the Government of Canada’s investments in key natural resource sectors of the Canadian economy …. To date, investments have supported Aboriginal participation in some of the largest projects across Canada, including the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario, Labrador Trough in Québec, Lower Churchill hydroelectric project in the Atlantic, shipbuilding contracts on the west and east coasts, as well as in oil and gas development on the west coast ….” You can read more about almost $8M in federal investment to date in the RoF in that part of the report here.

New think tank commentary(14 page PDF) “The Road to Economic Stability for Aboriginal People — We need a national conversation on standards for infrastructure for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people, and how newfound Aboriginal prosperity can build community assets ….”

“Mining for more: How much is mining really worth to Ontario? – Are low royalty rates making the province a tax haven for mining or building a viable industry — Ontario has collected about 1.5 per cent in royalties on the billions of dollars worth of ore extracted in the province over the past decade, but critics say that’s not enough for the loss of non-renewable resources, a CBC News investigation supported by Michener-Deacon shows ….”

Not exactly RoF or mining, but worth a look “Canada’s spies are warning the federal government about an “extremist” threat to natural resource development, internal documents show. “Extremists” have united both in person and online in their opposition to Canadian natural resource projects, according to a September 2014 “threat overview” prepared by CSIS for Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney. The heavily censored document does not outline specific threats or projects, nor does it single out particular groups. But it lists the threat between sections on terrorist travellers and a growing anti-Muslim movement advocating violence in Canada. The CSIS report, obtained under Access to Information law, mirrors strong language in a January 2014 report from the RCMP warning of an “anti-Canadian petroleum movement.” The report, obtained by Greenpeace, said that movement is well financed and organized, and includes “peaceful activists, militants, and violent extremists.” ….”